MIA > Archive > Riazanov > Plekhanoc/ELG
The struggle against absolutism is a historical task, shared by Russian socialists and other progressive parties in Russia – will not bring them the influence they might otherwise have enjoyed in the future if, when the absolute monarchy falls, the Russian working class is found to be underdeveloped, indifferent to social issues or lacking any understanding of how to resolve these issues correctly in their own interests.
Therefore, socialist propaganda amongst those sections of Russia’s working population most receptive to it, and the organisation, at the very least, the most prominent representatives of these strata, constitute one of the most serious duties of the Russian socialist intelligentsia.
An essential prerequisite for such propaganda is the creation of workers’ literature, which should provide a simple, concise and clear exposition of scientific socialism and elucidate the most important socio-political tasks of contemporary Russian life from the standpoint of the interests of the working class.
But before we set about creating such literature, our revolutionary intelligentsia must itself assimilate the modern socialist worldview, renouncing the old traditions that are incompatible with it. Therefore, a critique of the programmes and doctrines prevailing within its ranks must occupy an important place in our socialist literature.
Anyone familiar with the current state of our socialist literature knows how little it meets both of the above requirements.
The members of the group that first undertook the publication of Black Repartition (Cherny Peredel) (in 1879–80), resolved to do everything in their power to help fill these gaps and, to this end, are now embarking on the publication of the Library of Contemporary Socialism.
Whilst fully recognising the necessity and importance of the struggle against absolutism, they believe at the same time that the Russian intelligentsia has hitherto paid too little attention to the aforementioned tasks of organising the working class and propagating socialism amongst its ranks; they believe that its struggle against the government has not been sufficiently accompanied by the preparation of the Russian working class for conscious participation in the country’s political life. The subversive work of our revolutionaries was not complemented by the creation of the foundations for a future socialist workers’ party in Russia.
By now revising their programme to focus on the struggle against absolutism and the organisation of the Russian working class into a distinct party with a specific socio-political programme, the former members of the Black Repartition (Cherny Peredel) group have now formed a new group ‘Liberation of Labour’ and are definitively breaking with their former anarchist tendencies [1]
The success of this group’s first undertaking depends, of course, on the sympathy and support of revolutionaries active in Russia. It is therefore appealing to all circles and individuals, in Russia and abroad, who sympathise with the views set out above, with a proposal for an exchange of services, the organisation of mutual relations, and the joint development of a more comprehensive programme for work in the interests of the common cause.
This group regards the Library of Modern Socialism as a first experiment, the success of which would enable it to expand its work and proceed to the publication of socialist anthologies or even a periodical review.
The task set by the publishers of the Library of Modern Socialism hardly requires, in light of all that has been said, any further explanation. It boils down to two main points:
Editors: P. Axelrod and G. Plekhanov.
Geneva, 25 September 1883.
1. In view of the repeatedly circulating rumours concerning the alleged merger of the old ‘Chern. Per.’ group with ‘Nar. Vol.’, we consider it necessary to say a few words on this matter here. Over the past two years, negotiations regarding a merger have indeed taken place between the two groups. However, although two or three members of our group have even fully joined ‘Nar. Vol.’, a complete merger could not, regrettably, take place. As the reader will see from the pamphlet Socialism and Political Struggle, this merger is hampered by our differences with ‘Nar. Vol.’ on the question of the so-called ‘seizure of power’, as well as on certain practical methods of revolutionary activity arising from this point of the programme. Both groups, however, now have so much in common that they can, in the vast majority of cases, act side by side, complementing and supporting one another.
Last updated on 11 October 2026